Q: Who do we report bears to?
A: Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Report A Poacher Local Office
Q: If I see a bear can I chase it out of town?
A: No, this is very dangerous as you may run the bear into another person or stress it out making it defensive therefore dangerous.
Q: What is a better deterrent for bears, a gun or bear spray?
A: Bear spray, if the person shooting the gun misses or injures the bear it can make the situation a lot worse.
Q: Why practice with bear spray isnt it point and shoot?
A: In an intense situation people tend to freeze up, by practicing the brain already knows how to respond when using the bear spray by memory, this makes it more of a natural reaction than a thinking process.
Q: My garbage container is empty but the bear returns?
A: Bears have incredible memory and dont forget where they found food even just once. Keeping the container clean and locked will not allow that first reward.
Q: Isn’t bear aversion just bullying the bear?
A: Consider it tough love. It teaches the bears that human habitat is out of bounds for bears. When a sow with cubs experience aversion the whole family learns. Generations of bears can be conditioned this way thereby keeping people safe and wildlife wild.
Q: Why aren’t the locations of monitored bears made public?
A: Monitored bear locations and their dens are not divulged to keep both the animals and people safe. A poacher aware of precisely where to find a bear or it’s den facilitates the crime. Curious people interested in seeing the bear may encroach on its habitat and stress the animal, leading to an adverse encounter. For everyone’s safety the locations of our bears is kept confidential.
Q: What if I I’m not around to put my garbage out on pickup day? I can’t put it out early, what do I do?
A: Have a neighbour hold it for you or contact Homechek CNP about their garbage pickup service
Q: If I get a bear resistant garbage bin, won’t the bears just smell the garbage and be drawn in anyway?
A: They will, but they won’t be able to get at the garbage so they don’t get a reward. No food, no food habituation for the bears.
Q: Where can I purchase a bear resistant garbage bin?
A: Summit Home Center, Blairmore (403) 562-8282
Q: What are the most common attractants for bears?
A: There are more than you’d think! Click Here
Q: Are there bylaws regarding attractants for bears?
A: Yes, in the Municipality of the Crowsnest Pass the bylaws are covered under Bylaw 991, 2017 Animal Control, Section 12